A close aide of Chandy told reporters that Nitish Kumar first faxed an invite to Chandy. "Then he personally rang up Chandy and requested for his presence at the swearing-in. Then came numerous calls and requests from various quarters and by now he has more or less decided to be present at the swearing-in," said the aide who did now wish to be identified.Earlier, it was decided that Chandy will not go and ask state Agriculture Minister KP Mohanan to represent the Kerala government.

Another reason that has made Chandy change his mind is that while the Congress was part of the Grand Alliance in its efforts to keep the BJP out in the Bihar state assembly polls, the CPI-M, which is the principal Opposition in Kerala, not only did join the Grand Alliance but decided to contest on its own.